Push-button operator



May 29, 1962 A. DUBONNET 3,036,453

PUSI-PBUTTON OPERATOR Filed March 26, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORAll/06E Due on/A/Er ATTORNEY May 29, 1962 A. DUBCNNET 3,036,453

PUSH-BUTTON OPERATOR Filed March 26, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORAND/as DUBONA/ May 29, 1962 I A. DUBONNET 3,036,453

PUSH-BUTTON OPERATOR Filed March 26, 1958 3 Sheets-sheet 3 INVENTOR V Ifa 2 flw ATTORNEY Amaze Due om/z r United States Patent Ofiice 3,036,453 Patented May 29, 1962 3,036,453 PUSH-BUTTON OPERATOR AndrDuhonnet, Havana, Cuba, assignor to Societe Anonyme pour IExploitationde Brevets dAppareils Electroniques Codelec, Vaduz, Liechtenstein, :1body corporate of Liechtenstein Filed Mar. 26, 1958, Ser. No. 724,027Claims priority, application France Mar. 17, 1958 12 flaims. (Ci. 70207)This invention relates in general to safety control pushbuttons or thelike, of the type designed for operating various mechanical members,more particularly lock bolts.

The push-button according to this invention is rem-arkable notably inthat it actuates the member to be controlled through the medium of themovable armature of an electromagnet or like safety device associatedtherewith, whereby the movement effected by said push-button when thelatter is depressed is transmitted to said member through the magneticattraction applying said movable armature against an element of thestationary yoke of said electromagnet when the latter is energized.

On the other hand, when the electromagnet is deenergized, the thrustexerted on the push-button is not transmitted to the member to becontrolled; thus, under these conditions, the push-button isinoperative.

As a consequence of the arrangement broadly described hereinabove, theelectromagnet associated with the control push-button constitutes asafety or locking device of which the energizing circuit may be closedor opened by means of any conventional switch, or for example by one ormore key-operated switches known per se, and thus the magnet is causedto control at will and in a very simple manner the action exerted by thepush-button on the member to be controlled.

The thrust impressed to the push-button may be transmitted directly,that is, by inserting the movable armature of said electromagnet betweenthe push-button proper and its "actuating rod, in order to simplify themechanism and provide a device wherein only a stress-transmittingelectromagnetic force is actually employed, in the absence of anymechanical locking member.

The use of a push-button or like member for controlling the bolts oflocks or like elements on doors, notably automobile doors, isparticularly advantageous, were it only for its extreme constructionalsimplicity and the absence of any reversing members which, in all knownsafety devices, lead to lock mechanisms having considerable over alldimensions.

This invention is also concerned with the application of a push-buttonor control member of the aforesaid type to the control of bolts orratchets of door locks, particularly in automobile door construction. Inthis last case, and according to another characteristic feature of thisinvention, the electromagnet and the armatures thereof are housedtogether with the push-button in the door handle.

As a matter of fact, practical tests proved that by using anelectromagnet or an energizing coil of relatively small dimensions whichcan be housed without any difiiculty in a door handle, it is possible toobtain a sticking pressure in the movable armature which is sufiicientto ensure a fully reliable and satisfactory transmission of the thrustto be exerted on the pushbutton for controlling the lock bolt or likemember.

This invention is furthermore concerned, by' way of novel industrialproducts, with door handles and doors proper of all types incorporatinga safety push-button or like sliding-action control member of the typebroadly defined hereinabove.

Of course, outside the field of lock-bolt control, the

' aforesaid push-button or like sliding-action control memher may alsobe used for controlling under certain conditions the actuation of agreat variety of mechanical members or devices.

Other features of this invention will become apparent as the followingdescription proceeds with reference to the attached drawings formingpart of this specification and illustrating diagrammatically by way ofexample a typical embodiment of the push-button control member for doorlocks and the like which constitutes the subjectmatter of thisinvention. In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is an axial section showing part of a door handle or likestructure equipped with a control pushbutton constructed according tothe teachings of this invention;

FIGURE 2 is a section similar to FIGURE 1 illustrating the same handlewith the push-button in its depressed condition;

FIGURE 3 is a section taken upon the line IH-III of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is another section taken upon the line IV- IV of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is an isometric illustration of the auxiliary mechanical deviceprovided for actuating the push-button rod of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 6 illustrates on a larger scale a detail of the device shown inFIGURE 5;

FIGURE 7 is a view similar to FIGURE 6 but showing the parts in adifferent position;

FIGURE 8 shows diagrammatically an electric circuit adapted to controlin series, a plurality of push-buttons; and

FIGURE 9 illustrates the controlling action of a pushbutton on a ratchetwheel.

Referring first to the embodiment illustrated in FIGURES l to 3 of thedrawings, the safety push-button or like control member for actuating alock bolt or like member is housed, according to this invention,preferably in the handle 1 of the door controlled by this lock. To thisend, the handle '1 is formed with a cylindrical cavity 2 extending fromthe front face to the rear face of the handle and having housed thereinpart of the push-button 3 proper and the coil 4 of an electromagnet orlike safety device associated therewith, the movable armature 5 of theelectromagnet being inserted between the push-button 3 and its controlrod 6 so that it may transmit or not, according as the electromagneticcoil is energized or not, respectively, the thrust exerted on thepush-button 3 when the latter is depressed.

To this end, the push-button rod 6of which the lower or inner end 7 isassumed to act directly upon the member to be controlled, for examplethe bolt of a lock illustrated diagrammatically at 22-is independent ofthe push-button 3 and carries at its upper or outer end the movablearmature 5 of the electromagnet which registers with the pole shoes 8, 9of the armature or stationary yoke 10 of the electromagnet, and alsowith the pole end of the central core 12. This substantially U shapedstationary yoke 10 encloses between its side arms the electromagnet coil4 and is rigid with the push-button 3, the latter being secured forexample at its lower end by screws or like 'fastening members 11 on thepole shoes 8, 9.

Besides, the push-button rod 6 extends through the stationary yoke 10 aswell as through the electromagnet coil 4 and central core 12. Theassembly consisting of the rod 6 and movable armature 5 is mounted foraxial sl-iding movement through the electromagnet, and the assemblycomprising the coil 4, yoke 10 and push-button 3 is also mounted forsliding movement but in the bore 2 of handle 1. These two relativesliding movements are permitted by a substantially cylindrical cavity 13formed in the push-button proper and adapted to be engaged by 3 themovable armature 5 in the position illustrated in FIGURE 2.

The push button 3 is constantly urged to its outermost position (seeFIGURE '1') by areturn spring or like mem ber 14 interposed between thestationary yokeand a closing or like plate 15 disposed on the inner sideof the handle to close its cylindrical cavity 2. A plurality of check orstop members are provided between the stationary yoke 10 of theelectromagnet and the walls formingthe inner cavity 2 of handle 1 tolimit the projecting position to which the push-button 3 is urged by thespring 14. These stop members comprise for example a pair of laterallugs or studs 16, 16 carried by the stationary yoke 10 and slidablyfitted in longitudinal guiding slots or grooves 17, 17' formed in thewall of the cylindrical bore 2 so as to engage the bottom 18, 18' ofthese guiding slots or grooves in the position illustrated in FIGURE 1.

The lug 16' of the stationary yoke 10 is so dimensioned and disposedthat when the push-button 3 is moved, this lug (see FIGURE 3) actuates amovable contact strip 19 of a switch 20 inserted in the energizingcircuit of the electromagnet coil 4. As illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 4,this lug 16' causes the switch 20 to open by moving the contact strip 19away from a stationary contact strip 21 when the lug 16 engages the topof its guiding slot 17'. Conversely, when the push-button 3' isdepressed in the direction of the arrow F, the lug 16' is moved awayfrom the contact strip 19 and the latter urged by its inherentresiliency is thus free to engage the fixed contact 21 to close theenergizing circuit of coil 4.

This switch closing movement'is obtained for example after thepush-button 3 has been depressed only one or two eighths of an inchduring the initial part of its stroke a corresponding play beingprovided between the inner or lower end of rod 6 and the member to beactuated, for example the bolt 22. During this initial fraction of thestroke the movable armature 5 is held in contact with the pole shoes 8,9 of the electromagnet by a spring 23 interposed between the inner orlower end 7 of rod 6 and the inner cover plate '15. Immediately as theelectric circuit energizing the coil 4 is closed, the movable armature 5is stuck against the pole shoes 8, 9 and also against the upper portionof the core 12; consequently, the pushbutton 3 and its control rod 6move together as a unit. This rod 6 when actuated is moved to theposition in which it is shown in'full lines in FIGURE 2. On the otherhand, when the push-button 3 is released, the assembly resumes itsinoperative position shown in FIG- URE 1 and the circuit for energizingthe coil '4 is opened during the final portion of the return stroke ofthe pushbutton by reason of the opening of the switch 20.

FIGURE 2 shows in dotted'lines the retracted position of the control rod6 in the push-button 3 when the latter is depressed while the coil 4 isdeenergized so that the push-button becomes inoperative.

The coil 4 may be supplied energizing current through the return spring14 electrically connected on the one hand through a wire 24 to thewinding of this coil and, on the other hand, through a lead-in wire 25to an electric supply circuit. In this last case, the spring 14 isinsulated by providing for its lower and upper turns a pair of washers26, 27 of insulating material, as shown in FIGURE 1.

A manually-operated control device may be associated with thepush-button described h-ereinabove so that even in case of failure ofthe electric circuit the doors may be opened by momentarily providing amechanical connection between the push-button 3 and the control rod 6.To this end, and as illustrated diagrammatically in FIG- URE 5, amanually operated control button, lever or like member 28 may beprovided which, through the medium of a rod 29, a rocker 30 and a link31, is adapted to actuate a member 32 integral with the inner end of thepush-button rod'6. To this end, the inner end of the rod 6 may besquare-sectioned, as shown, or otherwise shaped. On the other hand, therod 6 is rotatably mounted in the electromagnet coil 4 so that, forexample by pulling the control member 28 in the direction of the arrowthis rod 6 may be rotated through a certain angle about its axis. On theother hand, the movable armature 5 carried by the rod 6 consists of mielongated plate adapted, during this angular movement of the rod, totake a cross-like position as shown in FIGURE 3, wherein its ends engagecavities or recesses 33 formed in the side wall of the push-button 3 atthe base thereof. In this position, the rod 6 is carried alongautomatically by the push-button 3 in the direction of movement due tothe abutment of its ends against the wall portions 34 or bottom of thecavities or recesses 33, as shown in dotted lines in FIGURE 4.

The four doors of an automobile maybe provided internally with controlmembers 28 so that, after having stated a failure of the circuitsupplying energizing current to the push-button electromagnets, the usercould make rods 6 integral with the relevant push-button through saidmembers 28 and lock or unlock, from the outside, the relevant door. 7

A semi-locking spring, for example of the hairpin type (not shown) maybe provided to keep the assembly comprising the button 28, rod 29,rocker30 and movable armature 5 in one or the other of its end positions(that is, with the movable armature 5 disposed either crosswise or inthe retracted position within the push-button).

On the other hand, any other control system, such as flexible cable,Bowden-type cable or the like, may be substituted for the assemblydescribed for pivoting the push-button rod 6, in order to avoid the useof a plurality of movable parts. 7

The manually-operated device just described may be combined, for exampleon the front doors of a vehicle, with the use of the key provided foractuating the locks of' these doors, so that the user may penetrate intothe car in case of failure of the electric system. For this purpose, aplate 35 having for example the shape shown in FIGURES 6 and 7, may beinterposed between the ends of the link 31. In these figures, theintermediate plate 35 is formed notably with a U-shaped aperture 36engaged by a pin 37 carried by the key-actuated barrel 38 of the lock,said barrel being adapted to rotate about a fixed axis 39. In theinoperative condition, that is, when the key is retracted from thebarrel 38, the parts occupy the position illustrated in FIGURE 5 and thedevice can be actuated manually from the inside by means of theauxiliary button 28 due to the shape of the aperture 36 which, as shownmore particularly in FIGURE 6 permits a movement of the plate 35 in thedirection of the arrow g as the pin 37 slides along one arm of theaperture 36.

In case of failure ofthe electric system, when the key is engaged intothe lock and rotated through half a revolution while closing a switch orlike device controlling the circuit through which the differentelectromagnets of the, door locks are energized, it is sufficient torotate the key by one quarter of a revolution in the reverse direction,that is, move the pin 37 now at 37 to a position 37 for causing theplate 35 to move downwards and place the movable armature 5 crosswise sothat the door can then be opened by simply depressing the push-button.When the door is open, the key is removed from the lock and theauxiliary control button 28 is pulled to unlock the push-button. V

If desired, any other manually-operated member, such as handle, lug orother sliding member may be substituted for the push-button mentioned inthe above description without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention.

' Different manners of mounting the electromagnet may be imagined, thesame also applying to the manner in which the electromagnetis connectedto the energizing circuit, for example by providing a key-actuatedswitch 39, 39a, in each front door of the vehicle so that according tothe usual practice a single key 40 may be used on one or the other sideof the vehicle for controlling the common feeding circuit 41 of aplurality of push-buttons 42 (FIG. 9). Finally, the push-button of thetype described herein may be used for controlling mechanisms or membersof any character for example a ratchet wheel 43 (FIG. 8), the controlmember 44 of which is to be locked or semi-locked under certainconditions.

Of course, the invention should not be construed as being limited to thespecific embodiment shown and described herein, as it constitutes only atypical example of the manner in which the invention may be embodied inthe practice.

I claim:

1. In a push-button arrangement for controlling a mechanical member,lock bolt or the like, a push-button having an inner cavity, anelectromagnet coil, an energizing circuit for said coil, a rod meansdisplaceable within said coil, said rod means being adapted formechanically contacting said mechanical member, pole means integral withsaid coil and secured to said push-button, a spring biased movablearmature carried by said rod means and located in said cavity, saidarmature when in its deenergized position, being biased into contactwith said pole means and upon the energization of said coil, said coilcauses said movable armature to be magnetically maintained in contactwith said pole means so that when said pole means is moved inwardly bysaid push-button said rod means will control said mechanical member,said pole means comprising a double-armed yoke member and the arms ofsaid yoke being positioned in circumjacent relation to said coil forsupporting said coil in position.

2. In a push-button arrangement for actuating the bolt of a. door lock,a handle formed with a hole, a pushbutton slidably mounted within saidhole, an electromagnet coil integral with said push-button, a controlledenergizing circuit for said coil, pole means embracing said coil andsecured to said push-button, an inner cavity in said push-button abovesaid pole means, a rod means displaceable within said coil, said rodmeans being adapted for mechanically contacting said bolt, a movablearmature carried by said rod means and reciprocably mounted in saidinner-cavity above said pole means, said armature being magneticallyconnected to said pole means when said coil is energized so that saidrod means will actuate said bolt when said push-button is depressed andsaid push-button being movable in said hole without said rod meansactuating said bolt when said coil is deenergized, a return spring forurging said pole means together with said push-buton to the positionthey had before the push-button was depressed, and movable contact meansin said energizing circuit, said movable contact means being controlledby said push-button so as to close said energizing circuit at thebeginning of the movement of said push-button as said push-button isdepressed.

3. A push-button arrangement as claimed in claim 2, wherein groove meansare .provided inside said hole in said handle and includes a pair ofdiametrically disposed grooves, and a pair of laterally projecting studmeans are provided on said pole means, said stud means being slidablyengaged in and forming with said groove means stop means limiting themovement of said pole means and said push-button under the effect ofsaid return spring.

4. A push-button arrangement as claimed in claim 3,

wherein said movable contact means of said energizing circuit arepositioned in one of said grooves, and one of said stud meanscontrolling the opening and closing of said movable'contact means so asto control closing or opening of said energizing circuit according tothe position of said push-button in said hole in said handle.

5. A push-button arrangement as claimed in claim 4, wherein a clearanceis provided between said rod means and said bolt to be controlled,resilient means being provided for maintaining the engagement of saidmovable armature with said pole means at the beginning of the movementof said push-button.

6. A push-button arrangement as claimed in claim 5, comprising amanually operated device associated with the push-button for positivelyconnecting said push-button to said rod means for actuating the bolt tobe controlled.

7. A push-button arrangement as claimed in claim 6 wherein said rodmeans is rotatably mounted in the electro-magnet coil so that it may bebrought by rotation to an angular position in which said movablearmature engages positively said push-button and may be actuateddirectly by said push-button.

8. A push-button arrangement as claimed in claim 7, wherein saidmanually operated device comprises a con trol member connected throughlink means to a member fixedly secured to said rod means for controllingthe ro tation of said rod means.

9. A push-button arrangement as claimed in claim 2, wherein a switchmeans for opening the energizing circuit supplying the electromagnetcoil of the push-button of the door of an automobile is provided on akey controlled lock for the bolt of the door lock for the door.

10. A push-button arrangement as claimed in claim 9, wherein a manuallyoperated device is provided for positively connecting said push-buttonto said rod means and comprises an actuating member, means forconnecting said actuating member to said rod means, manually operatedmeans connected to said connecting means, said key controlled lockincluding a rotatable barrel, means for connecting said barrel to saidactuating member, and a key for rotating said barrel and moving saidactuating member and the means connecting said actuating member to saidrod means so that said push-button can be moved to its operativeposition.

11. -A push-button arrangement as claimed in claim 10, wherein saidactuating member is provided with an aperture in Which is received a pincarried by said rotatable barrel, whereby when said rotatable barrel isrotated by said key said actuating member is actuated by said rotatablebarrel.

12. A push-button arrangement as claimed in claim 11, wherein saidaperture is of elongated U-shaped configuration, whereby upon actuationof said barrel by said key, the pin carried by said barrel will slide insaid aperture to register with one or the other of the two arms of theU- shaped aperture to cause the movement of said actuating member andthe means connecting said actuating member to said rod means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,783,617 Halovatch Mar. 5, 1957 2,795,127 Gust June 11, 1957 2,802,357Smith Aug. 13, 1957

